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23 Jan 2006 : Column 1797W—continued
Departmental Estate (Castle Point)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what (a) land and (b) property is owned by his Department in Castle Point. [42894]
Departmental Expenditure
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06. [39979]
Mr. Straw: The information is as follows:
Annual expenditure on vehicles for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in each of the last three financial years; and planned expenditure for 2005–06.
Vehicle running costs for the FCO home fleets operating out of Hanslope Park near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and King Charles street, London in south east England, including fuel, maintenance at Hanslope Park and insurance are as follows:
| Vehicle running costs (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 142,160 |
| 2003–04 | 159,102 |
| 2004–05 | 185,697 |
| April to December 2005–06 | 126,535 |
Expenditure for replacement vehicles for the FCO home fleets operating out of Hanslope Park near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and King Charles street, London in south east England, are as follows:
| Expenditure for replacement vehicles (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 123,128.29 |
| 2003–04 | 92,997.98 |
| 2004–05 | 115,242.00 |
| 2005–06 | 54,050.49 |
Annual expenditure on vehicles for each of the FCO non-departmental and other public bodies in each of the last three financial years and planned expenditure for 2005–06.
The BBC World Service operates two vehicles in the UK both of which are located in Caversham, Reading in south east England. Running costs, including fuel, maintenance and insurance, are as follows:
| Vehicle running costs (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 2,500 |
| 2003–04 | 2,500 |
| 2004–05 | 2,500 |
| 2005–06 | 2,500 |
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1798W
One replacement vehicle was purchased in March 2005 (2004–05) at a cost of £16,250. The BBC World Service car pool remains at two vehicles.
There has been no expenditure for vehicles in each of the last three financial years and none is planned for:
Annual expenditure on vehicles for each of the FCO executive agencies in each of the last three financial years and planned expenditure for 2005–06 is as follows:
Wilton Park operated two cars from April 2002 until July 2004. Thereafter this decreased to one car. There is also one delivery/storage van. All of the vehicles are operated in south east England. The running costs for these vehicles, including fuel, maintenance and insurance are as follows:
| Vehicle running costs (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 5,500 |
| 2003–04 | 5,500 |
| 2004–05 | 5,150 |
| 2005–06 | 4,180 |
Replacement vehicles have not been purchased during the last three financial years, and there are no plans to replace these vehicles in the current or next financial years.
There has been no annual expenditure on vehicles for other public bodies for which the FCO is responsible in Scotland, Wales, each of the English regions and Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years and none is planned for 2005–06.
Departmental Staff
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years. [43494]
Mr. Straw: Details of disciplinary actions which were commenced against civil servants employed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and which resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years are as follows:
| Disciplinary actions commenced | Sanctions applied | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8 | 7 |
| 2002 | 14 | 9 |
| 2003 | 21 | 19 |
| 2004 | 9 | 7 |
| 2005 | 19 | 17 |
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1799W
The figures given for the disciplinary actions commenced include cases which were not upheld or where the individuals left the FCO before the procedure was completed. The figures given for sanctions applied are the number of penalties handed out where an allegation of misconduct was upheld in line with our Misconduct Procedure. We do not keep central records for all oral warnings and these have not been included in the above information. A copy of the FCO Misconduct Procedure is available in the Library of the House.
East Africa
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the border dispute on the horn of Africa between Eritrea and Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement; [33191]
(2) what assessment he has made of the recent UN Security Council threat to implement sanctions against Eritrea and Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement; [33192]
(3) what assessment he has made of the ban instituted by Eritrea on flights by the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea within its airspace; and if he will make a statement. [33193]
Ian Pearson: We remain concerned at the continuing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their disputed border. We continue to underline to both parties that there should be no return to war; that the decision of the boundary commission is final and binding, and must be implemented; and that they should engage in dialogue on all the issues that divide them.
We have also supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640, urging Eritrea to restore full co-operation with the UN force, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, urging both parties to show maximum restraint and return to previous deployment levels, and stressing the UN Security Council's readiness to consider further measures if one or both parties fail to comply. We call on both Ethiopia and Eritrea to respond promptly and positively to the Council's demands.
Ethiopia
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Ethiopia on the continuing imprisonment of Daniel Behele and Netsanet Demessie. [41526]
Ian Pearson:
We have made representations to the Government of Ethiopia at ministerial and official level regarding all those, including civil society representatives, detained in connection with the political disturbances in 2005. Most recently, my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised our concerns directly with Prime Minister Meles on 17 December. He stressed the need for the trials of those charged to be transparent, independent and impartial. The international community is monitoring the trials closely.
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1800W
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the Ethiopian President adheres to the final and binding boundary commission border demarcation. [43132]
Ian Pearson: We supported UN Security Council resolution 1640, which demanded that Ethiopia accept fully and without further delay the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary commission and take immediately concrete steps to enable, without preconditions, the commission to demarcate the border completely and promptly. On 17 December 2005, my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, metPrime Minister Meles in Addis Ababa and had constructive discussions on the border. As a consequence we are consulting widely with international partners to further the process.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the viability of sanctions to ensure that President Meles Zenawi complies with the Algiers Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [43133]
Ian Pearson: UN Security Council resolution 1640 demands that Ethiopia accept fully and without further delay the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary commission. It did not threaten sanctions against Ethiopia for failing to implement the boundary commission's ruling as set out in the Algiers Agreement. It threatened sanctions in the event that Ethiopia or Eritrea did not meet the Security Council's demand to return forces to December 2004 levels of deployment.
The UN Security Council considered the implementation of Security Council resolution 1640 on 9 January 2006 when it decided to postpone further consideration to allow time for bilateral initiatives. We, along with Security Council partners, will consider next steps in light of the progress of these initiatives.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to secure the release of the 131 recently detained Ethiopian opposition leaders, reporters and aid workers. [43135]
Ian Pearson: We remain concerned at the arrest and detention of Coalition for Unity and Democracy opposition leaders, media and civil society representatives. We continue to raise those concerns with the Government of Ethiopia at every suitable opportunity. Most recently, my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and stressed the importance that those detained and charged with offences should receive a fair, open and transparent judicial trial and those not charged should be released immediately.
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